Easiest way to drill out a lock...

Just drill right through the middle. It really helps if you look at a lock and see that you're drilling to impact the screw that secures the cam.
 
Yep it doesn't take much. If you can't get to the back of the lock somehow to just remove it entirely, just drill right into the sucker and before ya know it, it won't be locking anything.
 
you really just need to get all the way through with a 1/4" or bigger drill bit. Once you get that size, you've drilled the head off of the screw that holds the catch on the back side. Once you get that far, you can pull on the door, and the latch will just pop off the back of the lock.
 
Don't forget your safety goggles and some newspaper...
Even with the drill on a low speed setting, you will still get aluminum shards everywhere.
Good Luck
 
IMHO, by far the easiest way to drill a lock is to not drill it. In fact, I've never had to resort to it.

If it's just the coin door, usually you can get to it from the back of the game (if the back door is open). If it's the back door, sometimes you can take the maquee out and reach the lock to take off the screw that holds the cam on. Failing those options, picking the cheap locks that are typically installed in games is usually pretty easy. A few basic lock picks and a tension wrench are pretty cheap, and the skill is more rewarding than wielding a drill.... and there won't be metal chips everywhere when you're done.
 
If they're Nintendo machines, DO NOT DRILL!

There's a few guys in the metro area with Nintendo Keys that will pop the lock for you.

PM ballytablewiz, he can do it.

Other cabs can be opened by accessing the cab either from the front, hand hold areas, speaker grilles, vent holes, etc. Just reach in with a snub nosed screwdriver and unscrew the lock tab off the back of the core.
 
IMHO, by far the easiest way to drill a lock is to not drill it. In fact, I've never had to resort to it.

If it's just the coin door, usually you can get to it from the back of the game (if the back door is open). If it's the back door, sometimes you can take the maquee out and reach the lock to take off the screw that holds the cam on. Failing those options, picking the cheap locks that are typically installed in games is usually pretty easy. A few basic lock picks and a tension wrench are pretty cheap, and the skill is more rewarding than wielding a drill.... and there won't be metal chips everywhere when you're done.

Exactly what I was going to say. I've never had to drill a lock. These things are not safes....
 
Exactly what I was going to say. I've never had to drill a lock. These things are not safes....

Agreed first option put a regular screw driver in the lock and turn it with some channel locks. Most rotate enough to open the door and you might actually find the key inside. I haven't drilled a lock in years.
 
it's the locks to the lower change drawer door in a Q*bert and Crystal Castles cabinets, so the change drawer is blocking the locks on the inside. One of the locks is a circle key lock... can those be drilled too?
 
it's the locks to the lower change drawer door in a Q*bert and Crystal Castles cabinets, so the change drawer is blocking the locks on the inside. One of the locks is a circle key lock... can those be drilled too?

Tubular locks are pretty easy to pick, with the right tool. That tool is fairly expensive though (~$80). I've heard they're not fun to drill either....
 
Is there a wrong way to do it?


Get a drill, a sharp drill bit. Put drill bit into drill with pointy end facing out.


Aim drill towards lock. Squeeze trigger. Press drill against lock. Don't stop until the lock opens. Open cold beer. Smile.
 
Check the coin return for keys. I recently bought and arcade, got too lazy to pick the locks, drilled em out, then found the keys in the coin return...ammit!
 
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